Folding garment-hanger.



M. D. WAHL. FOLDING GARMENT HANGER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912.

1 ,058 ,394. Patefited Apr. 8, 191a.

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pering so as MARTIN D. WAHL, OF ALLSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. FOLDING GARMENT-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 28, 1912.

1,058,394. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Serial No. 717,526.

To all whom 2'2. may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN D. WAHL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Allston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Garment Hangers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, hketletters on the drawings representing like pars.

My invention is a garment hanger especially constructed for folding into a practically solid package adapted to be carried in the coat pocket, or in a pocket in a traveling of the garment hanger. At said meeting ends provide a hinge 5 having a vertical pivot so as to permit the opposite halves of the garment hanger to swing horizontally together. The hinge 5 is preferably secured on'the back side of the garment hanger, and pivoted on the opposite or front side thereof on a horizontal pivot 6 is a locking plate 7 for holding the parts together, herein shown as notched at 8 to lock under the head of a screw or headed pin 9. Projecting rigidly from the center of said holding plate or looking plate 7 is a suspending loop 10, herein shown as open at one side to constitute a hook 11. The meeting ends of the parts 1, 3 and 2, 4 are provided with a central vertical kerf 12, 13, and snugly fitted in the upper portion of said kerf is a hinge plate or connection 14 pivotally secured in the kerf by horizontal pivots 15, 16. The plate 1 1 preferably has oblique ends fitting snugly against the corresponding oblique ends of the kerf 12, 13 when in the position of Fig. 1, and when in this position the adjacent ends of the parts 1, 3 and 2, 4 abut beneath said inge, so as to give additional strength. The parts 1, 2 preferably curve downwardly at their outer ends, while the parts 3, 4, curve in an opposite direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 so as better to conform to the shape required for supporting a coat, and at the same time permit the parts to nest compactly together when folded, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8.

I am aware that folding garment hangers of various, kinds have heretofore been suggested, made up of four parts folding over and over, and others composed of two parts folding together, and accordingly it will be understood that my invention is limited to the precise improvements above described.

en the parts are folded the supporting member-10 and locking member 7 are turned on the pivot 6 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the hook 11 being preferably of about the same width as the folded wooden port-ions, and the holder plate 7 laps flat against the free end of the outer member 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By combining the horizontally pivoted outer arrangement with the vertically pivoted middle arrangement, great strength is secured, notwithstanding the light construction, and by combining the variously curved parts with these horizontally pivoted and vertically pivoted constructions, an exceedingly compact hanger is urally brought thereon in use. The hanger is preferably of wood and provided at its middle with a suspending hook, which cooperates with the middle joint or vertical pivot to removably lock the members in extended position, while permitting them quickly to piece or portion at the opvertical pivot is curved in a reverse curve and made in two parts oined by a horizontal tion of greatest strength to maintain the garment hanger stable and resist the carrying strains of the coat or garment which is supported thereon.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the garment hanger in front elevation, parts being broken away to show the detailed construction of the double hinge connection; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the garment hanger folded; and Fig. 3 is a view of the latter in top plan.

he garment hanger proper consists of opposite end portions 1, 2 and adjacent intermediate portions 3, 4;, the latter being tato have the greatest vertical height at their meeting ends at the middle pivot-s in each kerf to abut against said oblique ends of the kerfs when the garment hanger is extended, and a supporting and locking device horizontally pivoted on one of said central parts on the side of the hanger opposite said vertically pivoting hinge, a pin-like part secured to the adjacent end of the adjacent central part on the same side thereof as said device, and the latter having a locking portion extending horizontally to engage said pin-like part when the supporting and locking device is turned on its said horizontal pivot into position for supporting the hanger.

3. A folding garment hanger, comprising two central parts united by a vertically pivoting hinge secured thereto at one side of the garment hanger, and end portions, the inner ends of said end portions and the outer ends of said central parts having provided when folded, while the supporting and locking arrangement unites with the aforesaid parts and constructions to give strength, compactness and neatness to the combination.

In use a number of these garment hangers can be carried in a traveling bag or suit case or trunk without wasting any space, and, while occupying a very small space, because of their rectangular shape when folded, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When it is desiredto use one of the hangers its hook or suspending wire 10 is turned up slightly farther than shown in Fig. 1, and the two halves of the body of the hanger are swung away from each other on the pivot 5 until the headed pin 9 comes above the notch 8, whereupon the plate 7 is lifted into engagement with the pin 9 beneath said head, so as to lock the middle parts 3,4 in rigidly extended position. The ends 1, 2 are then vertical kerfs with oblique inner ends apraised and turned down on theirhorizontal proachmg each other at the top of the pivots to the positions shown in Fig. 1, the relatively long hinge plates 14 with their oblique ends holding the end portions 1, 2 rigidly against improper downward movement and against any sidewise movement whatever in a horizontal plane.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A folding garment hanger, comprising a multi-part body having central portions joined'by a vertical pivot and horizontally pivoted end portions, and a supporting member movable from supporting position into horizontal alinement with the body parts when folded together, said supporting member and the adjacent part of the body having cooperating parts constituting a lock movable into locking position whenthe supporting member is moved into supporting position.

2. A'folding garment hanger, comprising two central parts united by a vertically pivoting hinge secured thereto at one side 0 the garment hanger, and end portions, the inner ends of said end portions and the outer ends of said central parts having vertical kerfs with oblique inner ends approaching each other at the top of the hanger, and hinge plates with correspondingly oblique ends pivoted on horizontal hanger, and hinge plates with correspondingly oblique ends pivoted on horizontal pivots in each kerf to abut against said oblique ends of the kerfs when the garment hanger is extended, and a supporting and locking device horizontally pivoted on one of said central parts on the side of the hanger opposite said vertically pivoting hinge, a pin-like part secured to the adjacent end of the adjacent central part on the same side thereof as said device, and the latter having a locking portion extending horizontally to engage said pin-like part when the supporting and locking device is turned on its said horizontal pivot into position for supporting the hanger, the top edges of said central parts being concave and sloping downwardly toward the extremities of the hanger and the outer portions edges convex to nest compactly against the said concave edges when the garment hanger is folded.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN D. VVAHL.

\Vitnesses J AMES R. Hononn, R. J. HnRsnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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